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Unanswered: Need Advice/Suggestions on multiuser environment

Hi all,
I have just started a new job a few days back. The firm has developed an inhouse Access application by a person, who is basically an engineer but since he had some knowledge of Access, he built the thing, which is quite haphazard, and serioulsy lacks any structure. I have been called in to troubleshoot the probs and restructure the whole thing. First some background. My firm basically employs around 40-50 people. What happens is there is a main Access database used as a template, which is empty i.e. contains no data. As soon as any new project commences, the engineers working on that project make a copy of that blank template and use that new copy for the project. Each new project and a new copy is created, which means each copy contains data about the particular project only. There is also no central database wherein all the data would be collected. Instead they r just archiving the individual copies. What I want from you expert guys out there is that is this really a good way to do the work? I know, it is not, so what coudl be a better way to do it using Access? Since too many users are also not good for working on MS Access simultaneously, what do u Gurus suggest should I do? Any help on the matter would be really appreciated. Currently the platform in my office is windows NT but shortly planning to move to Windows XP. Thank you all for your time and effort. Cheers.

Create one central back-end--and a front-end for Users to enter their data....on the back-end each project should have a project id; reports/forms etc should give the User the option to choose the project their network ID was previously associated with (this would need to be coded before distribution)
This method will eliminate multiple databases, and allow a multi-user environment without conflict of locking records.

Re: Need Advice/Suggestions on multiuser environment

Access can support 40,50 users easily. Create a multi-user environment. Best thing to do this is by following any access book. I did this using Using Access 97 book. They have detailed steps on how to create multi-user environment.
Put your database on the server. Go to tools -> security -> workgroup Administrator. then follow the wizard. Don't do it on the main database. Copy the database or create one more test database and do this. The wizard will walk you through creating users and creates a System.mdw file. Once you create users, create a shortcut to the database. right click on the shortcut, click properties and in the properties do the following steps.
1)In the target:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Msaccess.exe" "u:\test.mdb" /Wrkgrp "u:\System.mdw"

2)In the Start In:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10"
click ok.
NOTE: In the above properties for office 2000 it will be just Office not Office10.

then copy the shortcut to the client computers. then you are ready to go.
Hope this helps.
Jay

Thank you all for the reply. What you all have suggested is veyr much similar to what I had in mind, however now I have a more exact idea of how to go about. I really appreciate all you guys for the feedback, and its gonna help me a lot. If you have anything more to share, plz do so. I would be more than happy to implement those suggestions here. Cheers all.